Gorilla & Chimp Tracking in Uganda
Day 1
Departing from Entebbe Airport you will be welcomed by your expert guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your journey. On the route west you pass the historic town of Fort Portal before continuing to Ndali Lodge. The lodge has amazing 360º views of the ancient volcanic landscape, the Bunyaruguru Crater Lake and the Rwenzori Mountains beyond. After your long journey enjoy the swimming pool, walk around the lodge garden and grounds or simply relax on the terrace.
Ndali Lodge
Day 2
Spend the morning tracking the exuberant chimp families in the Kibale forest. Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor, is a thrilling experience.
In the afternoon, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The reserve is abundant with butterflies, plants, animals and, in particular, birds. Spectacular birds like Great Blue Turaco and rare Papyrus Gonolek will be of great interest to birders. The swamp is also home to more elusive animals such as Red Colobus monkeys and Sitatunga antelope. In the evening enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the terrace with its stunning views.
Ndali Lodge
Day 3
Depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. What you see depends on the season, but the Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob. The Mweya peninsula offers excellent game drives with magnificent views across the water to the Rwenzori Mountains. Mweya is one of the best places to look for leopard, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets.
Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 4
The Kyambura Gorge is an extraordinary natural environment and forms a stark contrast to the surrounding grasslands. Here you can track one of our closest animal relatives, the chimpanzee. The chimp population is quite mobile and viewing can be unpredictable but the walk itself is enchanting. In the afternoon take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, home to one of the greatest concentration of hippo in Africa and herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals come to drink at the waters edge. The channel is a magnet for waterbirds, with great flocks of pelicans and others birds on the shore, and a great spot to see African fish eagle.
Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 5
Your safari now continues to the primeval Bwindi forest. Travelling via Ishasha - subject to road conditions – you can observe the unusual behavior exhibited by the tree-climbing lions. The long journey through the rapidly changing landscape takes you to Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, which looks across to the towering trees of the forest.
Depending on when you arrive, there may be time to explore the lodge grounds with its clear mountain stream or visit the local village.
Silverback Lodge
Day 6
After enjoying an early breakfast, you set off gorilla tracking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day.
O/N: Silverback Lodge
Day 7
With an early start, set off back to Kampala and enjoy the views of rolling hills and farmland. Stop for lunch en route before arriving back in Kampala in the late afternoon. Return to your hotel or transfer to the airport in time for your return flight.